How much does a helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker make?
The median helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker in the United States earns $38,860 per year, about $18.68 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 49-9098.
Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker salary range
Pay for helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $28,770 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $54,650. The average (mean) wage of $40,750 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,770 | $13.83 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $33,760 | $16.23 | |
| Median (50th) | $38,860 | $18.68 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $46,600 | $22.40 | |
| 90th percentile | $54,650 | $26.27 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers (SOC 49-9098), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers earn the most in District of Columbia at $61,780 a year, and the least in Kansas at $31,770. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $61,780 | 130 |
| Hawaii | $51,980 | 430 |
| New York | $47,310 | 5,220 |
| Washington | $45,840 | 1,370 |
| Minnesota | $45,760 | 1,320 |
| Colorado | $45,240 | 1,030 |
| Alaska | $44,520 | 660 |
| Maine | $44,480 | 180 |
| Arizona | $43,270 | 1,850 |
| California | $42,700 | 10,690 |
| Vermont | $42,520 | 160 |
| Connecticut | $42,360 | 1,140 |
| New Hampshire | $41,810 | 410 |
| Utah | $41,760 | 740 |
| Massachusetts | $41,620 | 1,570 |
| Idaho | $41,550 | 470 |
| Oregon | $41,300 | 1,530 |
| Tennessee | $40,980 | 3,010 |
| North Dakota | $40,920 | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,790 | 2,290 |
| Nevada | $39,610 | 970 |
| Ohio | $39,430 | 1,390 |
| Maryland | $39,180 | 2,580 |
| South Carolina | $39,080 | 1,550 |
| Indiana | $38,920 | 1,170 |
| Michigan | $38,890 | 2,020 |
| Florida | $38,340 | 6,530 |
| Iowa | $38,120 | 800 |
| New Jersey | $38,120 | 3,200 |
| Missouri | $37,840 | 560 |
| Virginia | $37,840 | 4,030 |
| Montana | $37,690 | 370 |
| North Carolina | $37,660 | 3,750 |
| West Virginia | $37,470 | 430 |
| Delaware | $37,440 | 480 |
| Wisconsin | $37,420 | 1,660 |
| New Mexico | $37,100 | 720 |
| Kentucky | $36,970 | 1,230 |
| Texas | $36,680 | 14,200 |
| Louisiana | $36,130 | 3,580 |
| Rhode Island | $35,540 | 200 |
| Wyoming | $35,360 | 160 |
| Georgia | $35,210 | 3,310 |
| Alabama | $35,160 | 1,850 |
| Illinois | $35,100 | 1,020 |
| Arkansas | $35,050 | 1,680 |
| Nebraska | $33,890 | 570 |
| Mississippi | $33,790 | 990 |
| Oklahoma | $33,560 | 1,610 |
| Kansas | $31,770 | 630 |
State median wages for helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers (SOC 49-9098), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
The BLS projects employment of helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers to grow 5.3% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 97,100 jobs in 2025 moving toward 102,200 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 13,600 openings a year for helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker
The typical entry-level education for helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker earns
Certifications, the type of equipment worked on, employer, and region drive most of the pay difference. Flat-rate pay and overtime can push experienced techs well above the median.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $61,780) and the lowest (Kansas, $31,770) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 97,540 people work as helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers in the United States. At $38,860 a year, the job pays below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker salary FAQ
How much does a helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker is $18.68. The middle half of helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers earn between $16.23 and $22.40 per hour.
What is the highest helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers earn more than $54,650 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker make a year?
The median annual salary for a helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker is $38,860. The average (mean) wage of $40,750 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker a well paid job?
At $38,860 a year, a helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker earns below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 97,540 people work as helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers in the United States.
Which state pays helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers at $61,780 a year. Hawaii ($51,980) and New York ($47,310) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker a good career?
Employment of helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers is projected to grow 5.3% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 13,600 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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